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Marine & Canine Companion Reunite

After years of separation due to both Lance Cpl. O' Keefe & Canine Earl injured by IED explosions in Afghanistan---dog and handler have finally reunited.

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Updated: 5:32 AM EDT Jun 24, 2013

Marine & Canine Companion Reunite

After years of separation due to both Lance Cpl. O' Keefe & Canine Earl injured by IED explosions in Afghanistan---dog and handler have finally reunited.

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Updated: 5:32 AM EDT Jun 24, 2013

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WEBVTT K-9 EARL SERVEDSEVERAL TOURS OFDUTY OVERSEAS WITHTHE MILITARY... ANDTHEN IN BOSTONDURING THEAFTERMATH OF THEMARATHON BOMBINGS.NOW WITH HIS WORKCOMPLETE... HE WASREUNITED WITH HISSPECIAL PAL.TONY GUGLIOTTA WASTHERE FOR THEREUNION.K-9 EARL RETURNS TOSTATE POLICEBARRACKS INSCITUATE.... HE'S BEENPART OF A K-9 UNITHERE SINCE BEINGINJURED IN AN IEDEXPLOSION INAFGHANISTAN IN 2010.... HIS HANDLER,UNITED STATES MARINELANCE CORPORALBRADLEY O'KEEFE -ALSO SERIOUSLYINJURED IN THE BLAST -HASN'T SEEN EARLSINCE.... UNTIL NOW...."GOOD TO HAVE HIMBACK." RACHELLAWSON - LANCECORPORAL O'KEEFE'SSISTER - SPENT THELAST THREE YEARSTRYING TO TRACK EARLDOWN AND REUNITEHIM WITH HERBROTHER.... WHEN SHEFOUND OUT THE DOGWAS HERE ANDCONTACTED RHODEISLAND STATE POLICE,THE DEPARTMENT WASHAPPY TO GIVE THEDOG UP SO THE TWOCOULD BE TOGETHER...."THEY WERE COMBATBUDDIES AND HE WENTHOME WITHOUT SEEINGHIS BEST FRIEND ANDHE DESERVES BETTERTHAN THAT.""THE RHODE ISLANDPOLICE WERE 100% ONBOARD WITH IT. THEYDIDN'T GIVE US ANYTROUBLE, THEY DIDN'TWANT ANYTHING INRETURN. I'M VERYGRATEFUL." ANDGRATEFUL THAT THISUNASSUMING, EVENTIMID, BLACK LABSAVED AT LEAST 13LIVES INAFGHANISTAN...."HE DOES SOMETHINGWITH HIS TAIL WHEN HECATCHES ON TOSOMETHING AND INOTICED THAT SO ISTOPPED THE PATROLBUT BY THE TIME HEWAS ABLE TO LOCATETHE ACTUAL POSITIONOF THE IED, THEINSURGENT BLEW ITUP.""DOGS ARE HUGE FORUS OVERSEES - THEYSAVE LIVES." LANCECORPORAL O'KEEFEAND K-9 EARL ARE NOWRETIRED FROM DUTY....THEY LOOK FORWARDTO A PEACEFUL LIFETOGETHER .... MAN ANDMAN'S BEST FRIEND...."WE NEVER REALLYGOT MUCH CHANCE TOPLAY GAMES OR HANGOUT OR GO FOR WALKSOR ANYTHING SOWE'RE PROBABLYGOING TO GO BACK TOMY APARTMENT ANDHANG OUT FOR ALITTLE WHILE."

Marine & Canine Companion Reunite

After years of separation due to both Lance Cpl. O' Keefe & Canine Earl injured by IED explosions in Afghanistan---dog and handler have finally reunited.